State Department To Launch A Probe Separate From Centre’s Into Kolkata Metro Train Fire That Injured Forty-Two

A probe was initiated by the Commission of Railway Safety, which is a central body, on Saturday (29 December) to look into the fire that broke out in a metro train in Kolkata two days ago. The state fire department has also set up a separate committee to conduct a probe into the safety arrangements made by the Metro to douse the fire, reports The New Indian Express.

The fire that occurred in a Metro train on Thursday ( December 27) between the Rabindra Sadan and Maidan station injured at least 42 passengers. A notice was issued by the state fire services department to Metro Authorities over a lack of fire safety measures, on Friday (December 28). “The Commission of Railway Safety, which is an independent body and comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, will be probing the case. They deal with matters pertaining to safety of rail travel and train operations,” said a government official.

Chief Operations Manager of Metro Railways Kolkata Satyaki Nath, confirmed the fire department probe saying,“We have received a notice under section 35 of the West Bengal Fire Services Act 1950, where it says that the occupier of the building has to maintain fire safety norms, and that a committee has been formed to oversee arrangements.”